has completely forgotten the struggle the African American community endured to claim their identities! The same goes for the women who commented negatively about the person who was wronged, ( see Women's Sufferage Movement) and the thousands of Transsexuals who are undergoing the same struggles. Why the hell can't people just live and let live? You run your life, I'll run mine, you stay the hell out of my life and I'll stay out of yours, and we'll both be happy.

The average commenter at that site is likely an undereducated, backwoods, hillbilly mentality, and while being barely able to read, feels completely capable of spewing their racist, sexist claptrap in the only forum that will accept their crap.

You know, there was a spectacular attempt by the African American community to assert their rights when they staged the "Million Man March" on Washington D. C. Perhaps something of the same nature is required by those of us who are LGBTQ, and lets not forget the Black Panther movement. Maybe we could call ourselves the Pink Panthers? No. Too derivitive. How about the Pink Cougars? No, we aren't all MILFS. The Pink Pussycats? Nope. Definitely not! They'll expect strippers!

No. The biggest problem with organizing such a march with Trans folks would more likely be that many of us are still in stealth mode. Afraid to stand up and be proud of who and what we are because of an uneducated society which refuses to believe anything that is outside their precious comfort zone... and THAT ladies and gentlemen, is our BIGGEST problem with the fight to claim our rights! Because of the stigma which follows being recognized as Trans, too many of us are scared to death that we'll lose our jobs, families, careers and reputations if we stand up and declare that we are Trans and proud! And we are RIGHT in fearing that those things will be lost because it happens WAY too often.

Well then, you're likely saying, how CAN we claim our rights? Frankly, I don't know. Is it because we are too diverse in what we, as trans people, want? Is it simply because of the fears... or the imagined shame of being recognized as "different?" I simply don't know. I wish I did!

Resignedly,
Catherine Linda MIchel

What I DO know is, until we are ALL willing to step up and be counted, we will NEVER gain what is ours by law... equality UNDER the law!